GENERIC LEADERS SPEAK OUT AGAINST IMPORTATION

Citing concerns that importation of prescription drugs
from Canada and other countries "may result in more
counterfeit and unsafe products entering this nation's drug
supply system," the Generic Pharmaceutical Association
(GPhA) voiced strenuous objections to the sale of drugs
"that have not been under the continuous supervision of
the FDA." Like their counterparts in the brand name drug
industry, GPhA leaders also expressed opposition to pharmaceutical
price controls, noting that "timely competition
is the key to affordability" of medications. "Importation is a
means to importing price controls and is contrary to supporting
robust drug research and development," the
generic association maintained.

"Instead of unwisely attempting to reduce high prescription
drug costs through unregulated foreign imports,
American consumers can have safe and affordable prescription
drugs through greater utilization of FDAapproved
and regulated generic drugs and expanded prescription
drug coverage," GPhA said. "Americans seeking
savings won't always find them across the borderon
average, generics are less expensive in the United States
than in Canada and do not put the quality of US health
care at risk."